"Ok let's see. Orphan'd as a little girl, abandoned at the Kyu-Jinsuta School of Swordplay."
"Growing up, I was under the tutelage of Hakimoro Nientonso."
"It wasn't always easy, being trained from birth to be a sword fighter, especially when my body isn't suited for it, and being the only girl at the academy."
"But I won't pretend to be some victim or martyr. I got to enjoy reputation that I'm sure I otherwise never would have obtained."
"Anyways, as my master grew older in age other less skilled schools attempted to defeat him hoping to gain honor. As my master grew older he took fewer and fewer students. I was one of his last."
"Eventually my master was forced to take a fight with a rival school because the students of their academy had beaten and accosted one of our students."
"But my master was far too old at this point to have any chance to succeed against a young fighter, even one well below his own skill."
"My master died in combat, and I immediately avenged him."
"However, the Irora-jutsu school the rival master hailed from was by far larger than our now slowly dying one. In order to prevent all out war and the destruction of the school, they banished me to prevent recourse."
"And now I'm here."
" I'm curious.. you said many names in the Tian Language and are clearly a skill warrior, I cannot see how you are no less skilled or suited for it than Hazel or Lily or even Miss Lana? What is it that you are that makes your body undesirable? "
"You probably just think I'm a pale human girl, you seem pretty sheltered in your exposure to different people."
"I'm a Fetchling. We're not really known for our great strength or martial prowess."
"No. Our claim to fame is being gutter snipes."
" I... I was not aware were of that masterful race... "
" You overcame your racial bias.. I can say without a doubt you are not anything I would consider negative. You are an honorable warrior.. Much MUCH stronger than I "
Asteria shrugs.
" Never change Miss Asteria, Never change. I will take your previous warning to heart however... I don't want to end up on the receiving end of a weapon by any of you.. I've seen what happens when you all wield a simple spear. I think.. I need a drink.. do you want anything while I'm there? "
"No thanks, my legs work fine."
"See you soon."
Gaedren goes up to the bar where he presumes Quinn is meandering and orders the strongest drink he can muster.. he would need it for later.. and perhaps a drink would calm his nerves. " I'll need a pint if you can handle that.. "
Quinn slides Gaedren over a drink and soon Shaylee comes and sits next to him.
Gaedren chugs the entire drink in the span of 20 seconds ad places it down. " So.... how did it go? What.... happened? "
"I trusted a woman's words at face value. The irony of that isn't lost on me."
"I made a mistake. I don't think you and Lily should spend much time together for a while."
"I'm not sure it would be right for me to go into it."
" ..... But.. that's impossible.. how are we to work together.. If I cannot communicate with her. Even moreso.. what is to be done about the rooms..? I suppose I can.. sleep out here. Is... Is she alright? " Gaedren looks at the drink
" Quinn.. did you perhaps give me flavored water? "
" Are you sure you cannot tell me a thing? Her well being.. he issue.. Nothing? I was involved.. It would be appropriate that I know something Miss Shaylee.. I left you to make amends because I thought you could help. Not let it fester more. "
Shaylee bites her lip nervously, "Ok when you first had your ordeal, Lily told me it was just to help you. Which I understood, I would have done something similar."
"However, that really wasn't it at all. I'm sure that's how she rationalized it to herself at first, so I can't really blame the girl."
Shaylee sighs, "Lily was married."
"To a druid of a small forest in Andoran. Three years ago, he was murdered by a group of poachers who were pillaging his forest. He died trying to save a wolf and her pups."
"Lily saw it all, the poachers died of their wounds, but so did her husband Malen."
"At the time, Lily wasn't capable of healing."
"A single wolf pup survived the ordeal, guess what her name is?"
"So three years go by, Lily devotes herself to following in her husbands footsteps of becoming a druid, but she doesn't know how, she had no connection to his order, she teaches herself the best she can."
"The problem comes in, when she meets you. You remind her exceedingly of her husband, Gaedren. Maybe you can see the issues that start to arise from here?"
" I-I never knew she was even married.. I-I feel so terrible now.. My entire reasoning for action, I did because I felt they were right and needed... But in no way would I believe that cause such inner turmoil within Lily. That.. would be bad. "
"It's not anyone's fault, the damn poor girl should have told me. But I think she felt guilty."
"This is a mess now."
" If we don't handle this in some way Miss Shaylee.. I can say without a doubt... there will be problems. Not just tonight but it will effect her fighting skills. We have to fix this. Was that everything she said? "
"Yeah I think so."
Gaedren looks at the pint and places it on the bar counter as he stands. " Miss Shaylee... Where is Miss Lily?... I am going to do what is needed. I cannot take your suggestion here and I am sure.. her late husband Malen.. would not leave this alone either. "
"She's in my room."
Gaedren begins to walk to Shaylee's room he almost holds his breath as he approaches it, the pressure mounting and G!! D*+MIT the alcohol wasn't working. He could stand by and let Lily beat herself up. When he reaches out and knocks on the door. " Miss Lily.. it's me.. Gaedren...is the door locked? May I come in? "
Gaedren gets no response.
Gaedren sighs and tries the door stripping his armor off as he does so.
Lily lays upon Shaylee's bed facing away from the door.
The armor clangs to the ground as Gaedren closes the door behind him.. he moves and sits net to Lily on the bed and places a hand on her shoulder. " Lily... please speak to me. I can't understand whats going on.. if you do not tell me yourself. I can't help you.. if I don't know your pain. Shaylee.... informed me of some things. You shouldn't feel any guilt. "
"Shaylee shouldn't have told you anything."
" I.. convinced her to Miss Lily. I.. I understand now... That you need.. me. And I do care for you.. truly. I cannot stand by and see you hurting. "
"You've already said you care for Avarice. This whole situation is my fault, I couldn't save Malen, and now I'm hurting other people with my own failures."
"Just leave me be."
Gaedren FOR THE FIRST TIME realizes that leaving this alone based on her words.. would be a mistake. He sighs, this was something he will regret... but take full responsibility for. Gaedren reached out to flip her over, straddle her and kiss her.
Lily seems surprised but starts to kiss back, "What are you doing?" she asks between kisses, "You want Avarice as your woman!"
Gaedren continues though it is awkward being the aggressive one. " I offer you the same, you offered me. " He caresses her hair, " I will be your man if you need me to Be.. I want Miss Lily to be Miss Lily. I can't let it be any other way! I care for you.. "
"I don't understand" she says but she continues to kiss Gaedren more, wrapping herself around him and pulling him closer.
" Your body will... but uh... wait.. I need to get the door " Gaedren attempts to break for a moment to lock the door.
Lily sits up in the bed and observes Gaedren.
Gaedren then proceeds to turn around.. and do a slight striptease, clearly a bit embarrassed as he does so and approach Lily. " Miss Lily.. do what you must. Do not be ashamed. Vent your emotions fully but feel no shame. Malen would want it. I would not do this if I did not care. "
Lily begins to strip quickly, "So am I to be your woman then? Only me?"
Gaedren goes up and kisses her pulling her to the bed with a series of nibbles, kisses, caresses.. He tries to keep her busy with his body rather than speak.
Lily lays down into the bed with Gaedren, but grabs his face with her hands and kissing him, "Say you are mine Gaedren."
Gaedren hesitates for a moment as Lily holds him.
" Miss Lily.. allow me to do for you.. what you did for me the first time.. and after once we have both become one.. and you are calm... I will answer that. "
Lily rolls over and curls up and begins to shake, "Go away Gaedren."
Gaedren gets up and looks sad. " Miss Lily... I love you. I cannot say I do not. P-Please dont cry. " he tries to.. stroke her shoulder.
Lily doesn't turn around, "I don't need your lies or your pity."
"I don't expect you to love me; not yet. I just thought.. I just wanted someone to belong to me again... Someone who wanted me. Someone I wouldn't fail again."
Gaedren gets.. visibly angry and frustrated at his inability to convey his feeling properly to Lily and it shows in his voice. " DAMMIT Miss Lily! I can't lie nor am I pitying you! I'm showing my terrible flaw, my inability to please all I wish to protect, to care for. Nothing about what you want doesn't have to be false. It would be spitting on your late husband's grave to say he can be easily replaced. I could never be him.. because I am me.. Gaedren. But that doesn't mean you should grief nor dos it mean you should search out only him. You should do what makes you happy. What you want.. is also what I want. I want to belong to someone, I want to not fail any one of you.. and RIGHT NOW I feel as though I'm doing so for you! Trust me when I say I want you.. not for just one facet. Lily.. you haven't failed anyone yet.. But I have done so for you. " Gaedren tears up as well.
" Please Forgive me... I did this to you. "
"I know you're not Malen! I'm not asking you or anyone else to be him!"
"You remind me of him, that doesn't mean that I think you are him, don't talk to me like that."
" So you wanted me.. for me? But you wanted me to fill the void you felt you are missing? Miss Lily, that is a strong need. One that is.. admirable.. but If I did so I would also be betraying another and thus failing both of you. "
"So you do want to be with Avarice."
" I do love Miss Avarice yes, but both you and Miss Avarice go about.. courtship differently. And I have made this issue.. by making this situation possible. Miss Lily.. you took me on our first night.. and I did not hate it as much as I contested. I do not know what I want.. but I rather it not turn into a battle between you two in secret. I rather it be.. harmonious. Miss Avarice is Vengeful and Miss Lily is determined.. I cannot see simply picking one or the other without the knowledge of such for one side being good. "
"I'm not going to fight with another woman for your affections. You decide what you want, go away."
" I simply want actual time to decide whose affections I want... I will leave then. I never wished for either of you to fight for anything as worthless as I. " Gaedren begins to place his clothes back on feeling ashamed. When he is fully clothed he looks back to Lily one more time.
" Goodnight.. Miss Lily.. I again.. am sorry. "